Graveyard Keeper 2 Items and Materials Guide: Where to Find and Craft Everything

In Graveyard Keeper 2, it doesn't take long before a seemingly simple construction project suddenly requires Wooden Planks, Bronze Details, Melted Fat, Clay Plates, and some other item you've never even seen before. To make things more confusing, similarly named items such as Boards and Wooden Planks really are separate materials, while researching a technology doesn't necessarily mean the corresponding recipe will immediately appear at your workstation.Below, we've collected the main gathered and crafted resources you'll use throughout the game: wood, stone, clay, metals, fabric, paper, anatomical materials, kits, and supplies. Food, weapons, armor, fish, and one-time quest items aren't included, otherwise this guide would turn into a full export of the game's database. Fishing is covered separately in our guide to fish, rods, and bait, while all alchemy formulas are collected in our Graveyard Keeper 2 alchemy guide.

Why a Recipe May Not Appear

Before searching the entire map for a material you're missing, check the production chain itself. Recipes in Graveyard Keeper 2 can depend on several requirements at once: the correct technology, a specific workstation, an upgrade or extension attached to it, the required Mastery level, and sometimes an equipped tool. For example, simply having a Wooden Anvil doesn't mean you can already craft Bronze Details. You also need the appropriate technology, enough Smithing Mastery, and a Hardening Bucket beside the workstation.If a material should already be unlocked but doesn't appear in the recipe list, check:

• whether you've researched the required technology;
• whether you're using the correct workstation;
• whether it requires a Tool Rack, Hardening Bucket, Bellows, or another extension;
• whether your Mastery level is high enough;
• whether you have ingredients of the correct type and quality.

We cover technologies, red, green, and blue Tech Points, Mastery, and Inspiration in detail in our separate Graveyard Keeper 2 progression guide.

Basic Gathered Resources

Logs and Sticks

Logs are obtained by chopping down large trees with an Axe. Trees are plentiful almost everywhere, but it's especially convenient to gather wood around the Graveyard, Yard, and along the road to the Quarry. Sticks drop from small plants and some trees, and you'll constantly need them for Firewood, tools, weapons, and certain crafting components.Don't sell either resource early in the game. Wood is used for almost everything, and Sticks have a habit of running out exactly when you need to make another tool.

Clay

Clay is dug from clay deposits with a Shovel. Each gathering cycle gives 4 Clay, and the deposits are infinite. One of the first accessible spots is located near the Yard.The main early-game recipe is Clay Plates: 2 Clay produces 3 Clay Plates at the Potter's Wheel. You'll need them during one of Heffry and Jeffry's early quests, and later they are used in distillation and other production chains.

Sand

Sand is also collected from special deposits with a Shovel. Each cycle gives 4 Sand, and the source is renewable.Sand is needed for Glass, Polished Bronze, Polished Stone, and washing Tin. Later, it's worth assigning a zombie to Sand production because the resource is consumed steadily throughout the game.

Stone

Regular stone formations yield Stone and disappear once fully mined. Later, you'll unlock a permanent source near the Quarry that can be used indefinitely.Don't confuse regular Stone with Piece of stone or Stone Kits. These are separate items used in different recipes.

Marble

The first Marble deposits are found in the Old Mine. Later, a renewable source becomes available near the Quarry. Mining Marble requires a high level of Building Mastery, so you can safely ignore it during the early game.Marble is used for advanced construction, Graveyard upgrades, and late-game kits.

Iron Ore

Iron Ore is mined from ore deposits with a Pickaxe. Regular deposits are finite, but later production can be automated with a zombie miner. A manual mining cycle usually gives 3 Iron Ore.Iron Ore is smelted into ingots, which are then used for Nails, Details, tools, and most mid-game buildings.

Copper Nuggets and Tin

Copper Nuggets are mined from a copper vein. The vein is renewable and becomes your main source of bronze materials once you've exhausted the free Bronze Scrap found in old structures.Tin is obtained at the Sluice Box: 3 Sand produces 2-3 Tin. Combining Copper Nuggets and Tin lets you make Bronze Ingots without relying on the limited supply of Bronze Scrap.

Coal

Coal becomes available later and is tied to the Old Mine and zombie mining. It is used by the smithing chain for Iron Ingots, Bricks, Glass, and several other materials. If a forge recipe requires Coal and you're still exploring only the surface, you probably just haven't progressed far enough into the mine yet.

Water

Water can be collected for free from the well in the Garden. Each collection gives 10 Water. It's used in alchemy, paper production, Ink, and several crafting recipes, so keeping a separate supply near your workstations is useful.

Flax

Flax is grown from seeds in Garden Beds. Later, it can also be purchased. It is the main source of Flax Thread, Fabric, and Paper glop.If you've started fishing, don't turn all your Flax into Fabric. Flax Thread is needed for fishing rods and several other tools.

Wood and Wooden Materials

Once you unlock woodworking, a single Log branches into several different production chains.

• Short Log - 1 Log becomes 3 Short Logs at the Sawhorse;
• Firewood - 1 Short Log or 20 Sticks produces 10 Firewood;
• Wood wedge - 1 Short Log produces 10 Wood wedges;
• Wooden Plank - 1 Short Log becomes 1 Wooden Plank at the Woodworking Workbench;
• Wooden beam - 1 Log becomes 2 Wooden beams at the Circular Saw.

The game also has regular Boards, which can be obtained by dismantling some old structures, crafted at early workstations, and purchased from the Builder. Don't confuse them with Wooden Planks, as recipes treat the two as completely different items.

Oiled Planks and Beams

Oiled materials become available once you have access to Melted Fat.

• 4 Wooden Planks + 1 Melted Fat = 4 Oiled Planks;
• 2 Wooden beams + 1 Melted Fat = 2 Oiled Beams.

They are used for reinforced structures, barricades, and several base upgrades.

Reinforced Plank and Reinforced Beam

A Reinforced Plank is crafted at an Anvil from 1 Oiled Plank and 2 Bronze Details. A Reinforced Beam requires 1 Oiled Beam and 1 Iron Detail.During the early combat sections, Reinforced Planks become one of the main bottlenecks, so it's best not to spend all your Bronze Details and Melted Fat on secondary decorations.

Special Wood and Carved Wood

Special Wood appears much later and can be purchased from Harold after progressing his questline. It is used for advanced Wooden Kits and Carved Wood.Carved Wood is produced at Woodworking Workbench II with a Fine Tool Rack: 2 Special Wood + 1 Iron Chisel produces 4 Carved Wood.

Clay, Brick, Stone, and Glass

Clay Plates

The simplest recipe is:

• 2 Clay = 3 Clay Plates;
• workstation: Potter's Wheel.

Clay Plates aren't just quest materials. Later, they're used to distill Melted Fat and in several anatomical recipes.

Brick

There are several ways to make Bricks. At a Furnace, 4 Clay and 20 Fuel produce 6 Bricks. At the forge, you can use 2 Clay and 1 Coal to make 2 Bricks.Once your production setup is developed, the Furnace is usually more convenient for large batches.

Polished Stone

At a Stonemason's Workbench with a Tool Rack:

• 4 Pieces of stone;
• 1 Melted Fat;
• 2 Sand;
• output: 4 Polished Stone.

This material is used for Graveyard expansion, advanced structures, and Stone Kits.

Stone Kit

One production option at the Stonemason's Workbench requires 2 Stone and 1 Polished Stone. Later, Stone Kits can also be produced at an Assembly bench.They are used as intermediate materials for Building Kits and supplies.

Marble Kit

At Assembly bench II or III, 2 Marble becomes 1 Marble Kit. This item appears later in progression and is required for tier II building materials.

Glass

Glass can be made in two ways:

• 3 Sand + 1 Coal = 1 Glass at the forge;
• 3 Sand + 10 Fuel = 3 Glass at the Furnace.

Later, Glass is used for the laboratory, decorations, containers, and high-level items.

Bronze

The bronze production chain is one of the most important systems in the first half of the game.

Bronze Scrap

Your first supplies are easiest to get by dismantling old barrels, shelves, blockages, and other debris in the Morgue, Factory, laboratory, and basements. These sources are one-time only.Some traders also sell Bronze Scrap, but later it's better to switch to renewable bronze production using Copper and Tin.

Bronze Ingot

There are two main recipes:

• 3 Bronze Scrap + 10 Fuel = 2 Bronze Ingots;
• 3 Copper Nuggets + 1 Tin + 20 Fuel = 4 Bronze Ingots.

The second option eventually becomes your main renewable method.

Bronze Nails

At an Anvil:

• 1 Bronze Scrap = 6 Bronze Nails;
• 1 Bronze Ingot = 12 Bronze Nails.

Bronze Nails are required for almost every early workstation and building, so it's worth keeping a few dozen in a chest at all times.

Bronze Details

1 Bronze Ingot becomes 6 Bronze Details. The recipe requires an Anvil with a Hardening Bucket and enough Smithing Mastery.This is one of the most heavily used early-game materials. Bronze Details are required for tools, fishing rods, workstations, Reinforced Planks, and quest items.

Polished Bronze

At a Woodworking Workbench with a Tool Rack:

• 2 Bronze Details;
• 2 Sand;
• 1 Melted Fat;
• output: 2 Polished Bronze.

Polished Bronze is used for upgraded workstations, tools, fishing rods, and jewelry-related items.

Iron

Iron Ingot

Iron can be smelted at either the forge or Furnace:

• 1 Iron Ore + 1 Coal = 1 Iron Ingot;
• 3 Iron Ore + 30 Fuel = 3 Iron Ingots.

Later, Iron Ingots can also be purchased from the Smithy.

Iron Nails and Details

At an Iron or Steel Anvil, 1 Iron Ingot can be turned into either 12 Iron Nails or 6 Iron Details.Iron Details quickly become the new Bronze Detail shortage. They're required for upgraded workstations, the Paper Press, Laboratory II, Circular Saw, and dozens of other structures.

Advanced Detail

Advanced Details use Bronze and Iron Details. The recipe unlocks during the iron stage and is needed for upgraded tools, fishing equipment, and high-level structures.If you start mass-producing Advanced Details, don't convert your entire Iron supply into them. Regular Iron Details continue to be required separately throughout the game.

Steel, Gold, and Rare Materials

Steel Ingots

Unlike Bronze and Iron Ingots, Steel Ingots cannot be smelted yourself. After progressing the Man of Steel quest, you can buy them from Brother Bishop through a separate dialogue option at the Royal Foundry.Steel is expensive and used for late-game tools, armor, Engineering Kits, and Details, so don't buy hundreds of ingots as soon as they become available unless you have a specific purpose in mind.

Steel Details and Screws

At the Steel Anvil:

• 1 Steel Ingot = 1 Steel Detail;
• 1 Steel Ingot = 8 Steel Screws.

Both materials also become available from the Smithy at higher trading tiers.

Golden Nuggets

Gold can be obtained from the Sluice Box after unlocking the appropriate perk, purchased from the Trademaster, and received from some story rewards. Later, alchemy lets you turn Iron Ore into a Golden nugget using the Philosopher Stone.

Golden Ingot

At Furnace II with Bellows, 3 Golden nuggets and 30 Fuel produce 2 Golden ingots. Later, they can also be purchased from the Jeweler or created through the Philosopher Stone.Gold is used for jewelry, advanced books, church items, and late-game structures.

Fabric and Flax Thread

After unlocking the Spinning Wheel, 4 Flax becomes 4 Flax Thread. This is the main material used for fishing rods, bows, candles, and Fabric.Fabric can be obtained in two ways:

• 4 Flax Thread = 1 Fabric at the Weaving Loom;
• 16 Flax = 1 Fabric through an Assembly bench with a Spinning Wheel.

The first method is usually more efficient in terms of Flax consumption, especially once Thread production is already running regularly.

Paper, Ink, and Books

Clean Paper

Early on, Clean Paper can be made from Leather Scrolls: 1 Scroll gives 6 sheets of Clean Paper.Later, you unlock the proper mass-production chain:

• 12 Flax + 1 Water = 3 Paper glop at the Formulation Bench;
• 1 Paper glop = 20 sheets of Clean Paper at the Paper Press.

Wheat can also be used for Paper glop, but the yield is worse, so Flax is significantly more efficient.

Ink

Ink is crafted at the Writing Desk from Ash, Water, and Melted Fat. Each cycle produces several units, which are then used for books, prayers, sheet music, printed money, and other written items.

Notebooks and Books

Leather Scrolls and Clean Paper are used to make Blank Softcover Notebooks. Advanced notebook variants and books require more Paper, Ink, and later materials such as Gold.If you're actively developing the Church and research systems, it's better to produce Paper and Ink in batches. Running back to the Writing Desk for a single sheet at a time gets tedious very quickly.

Anatomical Materials

Corpses in Graveyard Keeper 2 aren't just about grave quality. They're also a major source of resources. Autopsies and searches can provide:

• Blood;
• Fat;
• Skin;
• Bones;
• Skull;
• Heart;
• Brain;
• Intestines;
• Flesh.

You can search a corpse's pockets without a Mastery check, but safely removing organs depends on Anatomy Mastery. If your level is too low, you can destroy the organ or damage the body through a surgical mistake.

Melted Fat

This is one of the most useful intermediate materials in the game. At the Distillation Cube:

• 1 Fat + 2 Clay Plates + 20 Fuel = 4 Melted Fat;
• or 3 Seed Oil + 2 Clay Plates + 20 Fuel = 3 Melted Fat.

Melted Fat is needed for Oiled Planks, Polished Stone, Polished Bronze, Ink, Incense, and several anatomical compounds.

Ash

Ash is obtained by cremating bodies. It is used for urns, Ink, and some alchemy recipes. Ash can also be purchased from the Apothecary.

Fuel

Fuel isn't carried in your inventory as a regular standalone item. Its supply is stored in the Firewood Shed and used by workstations in the corresponding production area.The basic conversion is:

• 2 Firewood = 20 Fuel.

If a Furnace or Distillation Cube says it has no Fuel, don't search your bag for a separate stack. Load Firewood into the nearby shed instead.

Kits and Production Components

As the town develops, simple Planks and Ingots are no longer enough. The game starts asking for Kits, packaged intermediate materials used for buildings, orders, and upgrades.The main categories are:

• Wooden Kit I - made from Wooden Planks and Oiled Planks;
• Wooden Kit II - made from Special Wood at an upgraded Assembly bench;
• Stone Kit - made from Stone and Polished Stone;
• Marble Kit - made from Marble;
• Iron Kit I - made from an Iron Ingot;
• Iron Kit II - requires an Iron Ingot and Clay Molds;
• Furniture Kit I - combines Wooden Kit I and Iron Kit I;
• Furniture Kit II - assembled from tier II Kits;
• Engineering Kit - a late-game metal component used for machinery and town infrastructure.

It's better not to craft huge stockpiles of Kits. They consume versatile materials that may suddenly be needed for a more important recipe. Make them for a specific building or order instead.

Town Supplies

Supplies are finished batches of goods used for orders and rebuilding the town. They form a separate production layer and are usually assembled at Assembly benches.The most important types include:

• Supply: Iron - can be packed from Iron Ingots or made using a recipe with Boards and Bronze Nails;
• Supply: Iron Tools - Crate + Iron Kit I;
• Supply: Steel Tools - Steel Ingots + Crate;
• Supply: Building materials I - Stone Kit + Brick;
• Supply: Building materials II - Wooden Kit II + Marble Kit;
• Supply: Furniture I - Wooden Kit I + Iron Kit I;
• Supply: Furniture II - tier II Kits;
• Supply: Fabric - produced from a large amount of Flax or finished Fabric;
• Supply: Iron Tools and Supply: Steel Tools - required for later orders;
• Supply: Engineering Mechanism and Supply: Appliances I/II - require an advanced assembly line and Zombie Power.

Don't confuse regular materials with Supplies. If a quest asks for Supply: Iron, it won't accept a stack of Iron Ingots. You first need to assemble the actual Supply item.

How to Get Zombie Power

Zombie Power is produced in the Bioreactor at the Factory. One of the basic recipes uses 5 Wheat to produce 1 Zombie Power. The resource is required for automation, mechanisms, and late-game town supplies. There is little reason to stockpile materials for this production chain before you've unlocked the Factory.

Which Materials Should You Always Keep in Stock?

If you don't want to abandon your current task every time you're missing a single component, keep at least a small permanent supply of:

• Wooden Planks and Short Logs;
• Bronze Nails;
• Bronze Details;
• Iron Details once Iron is unlocked;
• Sand and Clay;
• Melted Fat;
• Flax Thread;
• Clean Paper;
• Firewood for Fuel production.

Rare materials such as Steel, Gold, Special Wood, and high-level Kits are better crafted or purchased for a specific purpose. They're expensive, and some story quests can suddenly ask for several units at once.